RI State Police Arrests Coventry Woman in Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash on South Road in Exeter

SCITUATE, RI — Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State
Police and Director of Public Safety, announces that members of the Rhode Island
State Police Detective Division arrested a Coventry woman in connection with an
investigation into a fatal hit-and-run pedestrian crash that occurred on July 3,
2017, on South Road in Exeter.

Ms. Shannon P. Holden, age 23, of 767 Weaver Hill Road, Coventry, Rhode Island was
charged with:

Duty to Stop in Accident – Death Resulting

On July 3, 2017, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Sarah Balmforth of Exeter, was struck
and killed as she walked with her dog along South Road in the Town of Exeter. The
vehicle that struck her did not remain on scene. However, from evidence that was
gathered at the scene of the crash and from information that was obtained during the
investigation, State Police Detectives were able to locate a 1999 Jeep Wrangler at
the Holden residence that had damage consistent with that of the vehicle that struck
Balmforth. The Jeep was registered to Shannon Holden. As a result, several search
warrants were executed and numerous interviews were conducted, which culminated in
an arrest warrant being issued for Holden.